Socialite gets special probation in Greenwich scarf-theft case

David Hennessey, Connecticut Post

David Hennessey, Staff Writer

Published 1:02 am, Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Beata Boman, a Manhattan socialite accused of stealing a $11,000 scarf from Richards of Greenwich on June 13, was arrested on Sunday, July 24, on a warrant accusing her of stealing a different scarf, worth $725, two days earlier. Photo provided by Greenwich police.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Beata Boman, a Manhattan socialite accused of stealing a $11,000...

Laercio Xavier and Beata Boman attend a gaarden party at the Piaget Boutique on March 10, 2011 in New York City.
Photo: Henry S. Dziekan III, ST

Laercio Xavier and Beata Boman attend a gaarden party at the Piaget...

New York City socialite Beata Boman appeared in court Monday, July 11, 2011 on a first-degree larceny charge for the alleged theft of an $11,000 fur stole from Richards of Greenwich. Her next court date is Aug. 8.
Photo: Frank MacEachern

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STAMFORD -- The Polish-born Manhattan socialite accused of stealing two scarves worth nearly $12,000 from Richards in Greenwich this past June received accelerated rehabilitation in state Superior Court on Tuesday.

Beata Boman, a New York City fashion designer once romantically linked to Prince Andrew, has been ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, receive counseling and avoid being arrested during the next 18 months.

Accelerated rehabilitation is a special program for first-time, non-violent offenders that involves placing the person on probation and dropping the charges after the person completes the terms.

Boman, 38, was accused of stealing a $725 Loro Piana scarf from the Greenwich Avenue store on June 11 and a second scarf worth about $11,000 from the same store two days later. She was first arrested in June in connection with the theft of the more expensive scarf and then arrested in July in connection with the theft of the less-expensive item. Boman was charged with one count of fifth-degree larceny and one count of first-degree larceny.

Boman's attorney, Mark Sherman, said, "This is exactly what we were hoping for," Sherman said of the case's resolution. "We are relieved the court is giving Beata a second chance. With this behind her, she can now focus on her Beata B fashion line."

"Other than the allegations before her, she has lived an honest, hard-working life," Sherman said in Stamford court Tuesday.

During an investigation into the June 13 incident, store security went back through surveillance video and discovered Boman stealing the less-expensive scarf on June 11, according to police.

Sherman said after Boman's June arrest that she walked out of Richards with the $11,000 scarf because she was preoccupied while speaking on the phone.

with a friend who was undergoing brain surgery. Boman was walking back to Richards to return the scarf after noticing it in her bag when she stopped at Starbucks, a short distance up the Avenue, he said.

After the July arrest, Sherman said his client had recently undergone brain surgery, and that health issues were at the root of her behavior.

Boman has already paid Richards for the $725 scarf. The $11,000 scarf was returned.

Staff writer David Hennessey can be reached at david.hennessey@scni.com or 203-625-4428.